Tuesday Update 2/10/09

A few things worth reporting in this. Again I appologize on behalf of Justin and myself for our lack of posts. I'll start off talking about Ryan howard and the Phillies avoiding arbitration with his 3 year, $54 million deal the Philly Inquirer reported on Monday. This is a great signing and personally I feel it's a steal. They aren't locking him up for too long and I personally feel he's worth more than just $18 million a year. Howard is 29 and if his production stays the same it has been in his tenure as a Phillie, you will definitely see his asking price increase. That's the only problem with the short term deal. Howard led the league last year with 48 home runs and 146 RBI's.

The Eagles free agaent right tackle Jon Runyan had surgery on his knee last week. He will be out 4-6 months but should be fine for next season said the Philly Inquirer. His only problem is that he is 35 years old. If the Eagles don't sign him back, he may have a hard time going somewhere else, especially because he'll be on crutches when the FA period starts.

The Flyers are heating up after they beat Boston on the road on Saturday in overtime on Rnady Jones lucky toss at the net. They then beat Atlanta on Sunday on the road for 14th straight time (hahaha). What also is laughable is that Antero Nittymaki is the better option than Marty Biron at this point. Biron has failed to catch fire this year and Nittymaki has. Make it happen coach. The Flyer will next play on Thursday at home versus Ottawa. They are now in 2nd place, only 6 points behind the Devils with 2 games in hand.

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Hartnell Leads Flyers to Dramatic Comeback Win

The third period began and hope was all but lost for the Flyers fans. The team looked sluggish through two periods. Things looked bleak.

Down 2-0 halfway through the Second Period to the Carolina Hurricanes, on goals by Eric Staal and Matt Cullen, Scott Hartnell scored on the Power Play to cut the Canes deficit in half. Then the bottom fell out. Eleven seconds later, Sergei Samsonov got behind defenseman Ossi Vaananen (covering for a pinching Luca Sbisa) and made it 3-1.

Things got even worse from there when Scott Walker boarded Andrew Alberts and all hell broke lose. Eventually it settled down into a Walker-Arron Asham scrap, but the result was a four minute power play for Carolina, as Alberts and Asham combined for 21 penalty minutes compared to Walker's five. The game looked lost and out of control when Carolina scored twice on the ensuing Power Plays, goals by former Flyer Joni Pitkanen, and Eric Staal's 2nd of the night. The fans let the referees have the business every time they made a call, and as the two left the ice for the second.

Everyone was expecting the Flyers to roll over and die. They were down four with 1 period remaining, and the referees seemed to be against them.


The Flyers proved everyone wrong and came out flying in the third period. Scott Hartnell tallied his second of the night early in the period, and a few minutes later, he netted his third on the Powerplay to give him a hattrick and to give the fans something to cheer for. Suddenly, there was life. The Flyers were only down two, with over twelve minutes to play. With about five minutes left in the game, Scottie Upshall knocked out Goaltender Michael Leighton's stick and buried a goal to make the Canes' lead one. Simon Gagne then tied the game with less than two minutes remaining.

While the Flyers were putting the pressure on, Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki was up to the task to keep the Hurricanes at five. He had several outstanding saves in the third period and overtime and helped the Flyers get to the shootout.

In the shootout, both Simon Gagne and Mike Richards scored for the Flyers, as Niittymaki stood tall, denying both Tuomo Ruutu & Rod Brind'Amour to preserve the win.

3 Stars
1. Scott Hartnell (PHI)
2. Simon Gagne (PHI)
3. Eric Staal (CRL)

The Flyers wiped out their biggest deficit en route to a win since a February 1988 11-6 win over Detroit. The Flyers also trailed 5-1 in that game.

In addition to the Asham-Walker bout, Hartnell fought Carolina's Casey Borer after Hartnell clocked Rod Brind'Amour. Borer left the ice bloodied.

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Niitty Makes it 11 Straight

The Flyers beat the Thrashers 4-3 to finally move back over .500 with a record of 7-6-4. After starting off very slow this season, the Flyers have been winning more often than not. It was their 12th straight win over the Thrashers and Niittymaki' 11th straight.

Simon Gagne started the scoring early when he put home a breakaway to give the Flyers 1-0 lead, less than a minute into the game. Mike Knuble later scored for the Flyers as they went into the second period with a 2-0 lead.

In the second period, the teams traded goals and Kimmo Timonen scored a power play goal. It was Gagne's third point on the night and Knuble's 200th career assist. The Flyers were 1-3 on the PP. Knuble got the second assist on Timonen's goal and it was his 200th of his career.

In the third period, the Thrashers scored two goals. Joffrey Lupul scored less than two minutes later than the Thrashers' second goal to break the tie and be the eventual game-winner.

Antero Niittymaki stop 29 of 32 shots to help preserve the win.

Wow, Gagne has been just phenomenal in his return to the Flyers lineup. Of all the offseason "acquisitions", Gagne's return to the lineup may prove to be the biggest around the league. He has 22 points in 16 games. He's also provided a balance game with 11 goals and 11 assists, along with being a plus-8. It really makes you think about what could have been if Gagne was healthy last year.

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A shutout!

Antero Niittymaki recorded a shut-out last night as the Flyers downed the Florida Panthers 1-0. Derian Hatcher put back a rebound off at Stefan Ruzicka shot for the lone goal in the contest. The Flyers were outshot and outplayed, but they're finding ways to win these games again, which should rebuild confidence.

The Flyers are now off until Friday when they travel to New Jersey for a 5:00 PM showdown.

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